Structure and Properties of Silk Fibers Grafted with Vinyl Siloxane Monomer

Silk fibers were grafted with a novel vinyl siloxane monomer. The properties of silk with different grafting yield were discussed. The results showed that the crease recovery of grafted silk fabric is improved significantly, handle of grafted silk is softer, and grafting has no influence on strength of silk. Graft with low grafting yield has no effect on dyeing properties of silk. The results of IR, SEM photographs and amino acid analysis indicate that the monomer combines with silk fiber by physical sediment and chemical bond, the grafting reactions mainly occurred on Ser., His. and Arg. of silk fibers, and ester crosslinking forms between silanol and Asp., Gin. of silk molecular side chains. X-ray diffraction patterns of silk fibers suggest that the grafting has no effect on the crystalline regions.

Silk fibers were grafted with a novel vinyl siloxane monomer. The properties of silk with different grafting yield were discussed. The results showed that the crease recovery of grafted silk fabric is improved significantly, handle of grafted silk is softer, and grafting has no influence on strength of silk. Graft with low grafting yield has no effect on dyeing properties of silk. The results of IR, SEM photographs and amino acid analysis indicate that the monomer combines with silk fiber by physical sediment and chemical bond, the grafting reactions mainly occurred on Ser., His. and Arg. of silk fibers, and ester crosslinking forms between silanol and Asp., Glu. of silk molecular side chains. X-ray diffraction patterns of silk fibers suggest that the grafting has no effect on the crystalline regions.